BIO

Joseph Hilsenrad has spent the past several years traveling across the US and around the world,
documenting cultures: their traditions, architecture and spirit. His travel has become both
a source of inspiration and subject matter for his films, as his work focuses on the rich textures
and subtle beauty overlooked and often discarded by others.

Previous works include: “Conscious Universe” 1996- Found Footage Video “Third Day” 1997- Found Footage 16mm “It’s Hard to be an American”- 1999 Color 16mm “Tiny Planet” 2002- Color Super8 & 16mm “In the Shadow of Bin Laden” 2003- Editor Beta-SP “Little Honda” 2003- Color Super8 “Las Pozas” 2003- Color Super8 “Light” 2003- Color Super8 “Horton Hears a Human” 2004- Color Digital Video Having made the conscious decision to distance himself from any corporation or service-based “creative” firm, Joseph has managed to retain creative control of his work and remain true to his philosophy. He sums up this philosophy with a quote by John Cusack from the film, Say Anything - "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought or processed…you know…as a career.” He was recently named Executive Director of the Community Media Initiative, a nonprofit media agency that provides creative and technical expertise to help nonprofits communicate with one another and with the community. CMI is a creative community committed to making the public conversation yield the public interest. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, raised in Petaluma, California and professed nomad, he is no stranger to change; but plans to remain in Portland, where he shares his passion for giving with his life partner, Angela Homme. In all of his travels, Joseph manages to keep afloat his small production company, Zen Films.